JOE JOYCE fears Anthony Joshua’s chin will not be able to stand up to the power of his sparring partner Tyson Fury.

Joyce is in camp for Fury’s December 11 grudge match against AJ in Cardiff.

Joshua, 37, comes into the fight having twice been dropped in round one by Albanian outsider Kristian Prenga, 35, in July in Saudi Arabia.

He climbed off the canvas to KO Prenga in the second – but Joyce has cast doubt over his former Team GB sparring partner’s chances against Fury.

Joyce, 41, said on SunBoxing’s Corner Talk podcast: “If Fury hits him with a shot like that and he keeps going and moving, I think it’s a difficult night for Joshua.

“He’s in a good state of mind, and skills-wise, footwork, and the work we’re doing with Sugar, I think it’s going to be in favour of Fury.

“I mean, AJ’s obviously got a puncher’s chance. He hits really hard and he puts shots together.

“But his chin’s a little bit suspect, as it’s shown and he can be dropped. So, it’s an exciting fight and I can’t wait to see it.”

Joyce spent four years sparring AJ when the two-time heavyweight world champion was trained by GB head coach Rob McCracken in Sheffield.

But he left behind his friendship with Joshua after winning Olympic silver at the 2016 Rio Games to turn professional.

He said: “I think that’s the last time I properly saw him and spoke to him.

“Obviously, I’ve been in camp with Fury before the first Wilder fight, when I fought on the same card, then had a quick shower and watched the main event. That was a great night in LA.

“I’ve been in camp with him now again, Fury, and we’ve always been cool. But I haven’t really heard from AJ since like the Olympics.”

Joyce and Fury share the same American trainer Sugarhill Steward – with camp well underway in Miami.

He said: “We’re just training now, obviously sparring and just basically training at the minute.

“The morale’s good. And obviously I don’t want to give too much away, it’s a good vibe down the gym.”